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Tag Archives: Toy

Die-hard drill instructors, jailbreaking football coaches, and corrupt backwoods sheriffs. It was all just another day of work for former Marine Corp. drill instructor-turned-actor R. Lee Ermey, who died earlier this week. Ermey was an incredibly dynamic character-actor with an instantly recognizable face and rambunctious personality. The Kansas native joined the Marine Corp. in lieu of jail time after he’d been arrested twice by the age of 17. He began his career serving as a drill instructor in San Diego during the early 1960s before eventually being sent on a 14-month deployment in Vietnam. He was injured during his tour in 1969 and was sent to work as a staff sergeant in Okinawa before being medically discharged in 1972, ending his hopes of a long military career. After moving to the Philippines to attend college, Ermey married and began taking odd jobs in television commercials before landing his first film role as Sgt. Loyce in a movie called The Boys in Company C, which followed five young Marine Corp. recruits from their bootcamp training to their deployment in Vietnam. Continue reading →

The long anticipated Ghostbusters reboot with Melissa McCarthy (The Heat, Spy), Kristen Wiig (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The Martian), Kate McKinnon (Ted 2, Finding Dory), and Leslie Jones (Saturday Night Live, Trainwreck) is now playing in theaters nationwide. Director Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, The Heat) has faced some harsh opposition to rebooting the series, but the film is still expected to earn a large haul at this weekend’s box office. Picking up 30 years after the last installment, a new female crew of ‘busters reopens the original location and works to rid New York of its paranormal residents. Original actors Bill Murray (Caddyshack, Stripes), Dan Aykroyd (The Blue Brothers, Tommy Boy), Ernie Hudson (Joy of Sex, The Crow), Sigourney Weaver (Alien, Avatar), and Annie Potts (Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Toy Story) are all expected to make cameo appearances throughout the film, so it should be a pretty fun summer blockbuster. Also opening in theaters this weekend is a new drama from director Brad Furman (The Lincoln Lawyer, Runner Runner) called The Infiltrator. Continue reading →

May 23rd, 1980 saw the release of one of director Stanley Kubrick‘s most iconic films, The Shining. Initially a commercial flop, the film has gone down as an iconic Hollywood masterpiece, and one of Kubrick’s most celebrated films. Based on a novel by author Stephen King (Carrie, Salem’s Lot), who admittedly is not a big fan of Kubrick’s adaptation, The Shining combines a a series of bizarre elements with Kubrick’s carefully crafted filmmaking, exploring the darker side of the human subconscious. Kubrick was a popular director at the time the film came up for production. He had previously released such renowned films as 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and A Clockwork Orange (1971), which had earned him a great amount of control when it came to making his films. The production on The Shining, however, was not what anyone had expected, taking more than a year to film at a budget that ended up at $18 million. What’s more, critical reception was incredibly harsh against Kubrick and lead actors Jack Nicholson (Chinatown, The Departed) and Shelley DuVall (Annie Hall, The Portrait of a Lady), even though the film did end up grossing $44 million. Continue reading →

After months of anticipation, we finally have a new trailer for the upcoming Ghostbusters remake with actresses Melissa McCarthy (Spy, The Heat), Kristen Wiig (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The Martian), Kate McKinnon (Ted 2, Sisters), and Leslie Jones (Saturday Night Live, Trainwreck). The new movie is written and directed by Paul Feig (The Office, Bridesmaids) with co-writer Katie Dippold (MADtV, Parks and Recreation), and takes place 30 years after the original films, when a new group of unlikely heros steps up to save New York from paranormal forces. Original Ghostbusters stars Bill Murray (Caddyshack, Stripes), Dan Aykroyd (The Blues Brothers, Tommy Boy), Ernie Hudson (The Crow, Miss Congeniality), Sigourney Weaver (Alien, Avatar), and Annie Potts (Pretty in Pink, Toy Story) are also expected to appear alongside the movie’s supporting cast, which includes Chris Hemsworth (Thor, The Avengers), Elizabeth Perkins (Big, Weeds), Andy Garcia (The Godfather Part 3, Ocean’s Eleven), and Michael Kenneth Williams (12 Years A Slave, Inherent Vice). The movie won’t be in theaters until this July, but the trailer is available here on MADE. Enjoy!

After months and months of anticipation, fans can finally rejoice! As of today, Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens is now playing in theaters nationwide, and if you haven’t already secured a ticket, you might have to wait at least a week or two before braving the storm of people waiting in line out the door. Director JJ Abrams (Mission Impossible 3, Super 8) took leave of his Star Trek obligations in order to direct the film, which reunites original stars Mark Hamill (Commander Hamilton, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back), Harrison Ford (Blade Runner, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Arc), and Carrie Fisher (Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, The Blues Brothers) with an all new generation of actors, led by Daisy Ridley (Blue Season, Scrawl), John Boyega (Junkhearts, Imperial Dreams), Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis, A Most Violent Year), Domhnall Gleeson (Unbroken, Ex Machina), Adam Driver (While We’re Young, This Is Where I Leave You), and Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey). The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi Oscar-winning screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan (The Big Chill, The Accidental Tourist) worked on the new project’s script with director Abrams and fellow Oscar-winner Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine, Toy Story 3), about a new threat to peace and justice in the galaxy that occurs 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi concluded. Little more needs be said; all I ask is that you not be an asshole and spoil the plot for everybody in ear-shot of your conversations! Enjoy.

It’s been 12 years since Pixar released its original smash hit Finding Nemo, and now Oscar-winning writer/director Andrew Stanton (Toy Story, WALL-E) is returning to the series with a new sequel called Finding Dory. This time around Marlin and Nemo must assist Dory in finding her long lost family in an all new 3D animated adventure that will once again feature the voice talents of Ellen DeGeneres (Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show) as Dory, and Albert Brooks (Drive, A Most Violent Year) as Marlin. Also lending their voice talents to the new film are actors Diane Keaton (The Godfather, Annie Hall), Eugene Levy (American Pie, Best In Show), Ty Burrell (Dawn of the Dead, The Incredible Hulk), Idris Elba (American Gangster, Prometheus), Ed O’Neill (Married…with Children, Modern Family), Kaitlin Olson (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Vacation), and Dominic West (The Forgotten, Hannibal Rising). The new movie won’t be in theaters until Summer 2016, but we’ll be keeping an eye out for additional news and trailers.

With the release date for Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens drawing ever nearer, fans and movie-buffs alike are jumping for joy with the release of the new full-length trailer. Written by director J.J. Abrams (Armageddon, Super 8) and Oscar-winning screenwriters Lawrence Kasdan (Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back) and Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine, Toy Story 3), the film picks up 30 years after the fall of the Galactic Empire in Return of the Jedi (1983) and finds the heros of the Rebellion facing a new evil that has risen again. Starring in the film are original Star Wars actors Mark Hamill (Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Kingsman: The Secret Service), Carrie Fisher (The Blues Brothers, When Harry Met Sally), Harrison Ford (Blade Runner, The Temple of Doom), Peter Mayhew (A New Hope, Revenge of the Sith) as Chewbacca, Kenny Baker (The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones) as R2D2, and Anthony Daniels (Droids, I Bought A Vampire Motorcycle) as C-3P0, who will be joining a new generation of actors including Domhnall Gleeson (Unbroken, Ex Machina), Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis, A Most Violent Year), Gwendoline Christie (The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay), Daisy Ridley (Blue Season, Scrawl), Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Rise of the Planet of the Apes), Adam Driver (What If, This Is Where I Leave You), and John Boyega (Junkhearts, Imperial Dreams). The movie is due out in theaters this December 18th. Enjoy the new trailer!

At last we have the first big blockbuster release for 2015. Avengers: Age of Ultron is now playing in theaters nationwide, and with the huge success the film saw during its European release two weeks ago, it should be an even bigger hit here in the US. Robert Downey Jr (Good Night and Good Luck, The Judge), Chris Evans (Captain America: The First Avenger, Unstoppable), Scarlett Johansson (Lost in Translation, The Spirit), Chris Hemsworth (Thor: The Dark World, Rush), Mark Ruffalo (Shutter Island, Now You See Me), Jeremy Renner (The Bourne Legacy, American Hustle), and Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction, Django: Unchained) are all back to reprise their roles as the Avengers, with Golden Globe nominee James Spader (The Blacklist, Lincoln) providing the voice of Ultron. Oscar-nominated writer/director Joss Whedon (Toy Story, The Avengers) also returned to lead the project. Here’s the trailer one more time, now go see it on the big screen!!

The follow-up to 2012’s Avengers (excluding solo projects we’ve seen released in-between like Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Iron Man 3) is coming to theaters this May 1st. Reuniting for the film are actors Robert Downey Jr. (The Soloist, The Judge), Scarlett Johansson (We Bought A Zoo, Lucy), Chris Hemsworth (Thor: The Dark World, Rush), Chris Evans (Fantastic Four, Snowpiercer), Mark Ruffalo (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Shutter Island), and Jeremy Renner (The Bourne Legacy, American Hustle) as the Avengers, who this time out must join forces against the evil Ultron, who emerges with the intent of carrying out his destructive plans over planet Earth. Also back to write the script and direct the film is Oscar-nominee Joss Whedon (Toy Story, The Cabin in the Woods), as well as supporting cast members Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction, Snakes on a Plane), Cobie Smulders (Delivery Man, The Lego Movie), Tom Hiddleston (War Horse, Thor: The Dark World), and Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick-Ass 2, Godzilla). You can see the trailer here on MADE; the original Avengers movie grossed more than $200 million in the opening weekend, so we’ll be sure to watch if this sequel can break that record.

Walt Disney Pictures has officially announced that Toy Story 4 is in the works and has been set for a release in 2017. The film will be directed by John Lasseter (A Bug’s Life, Cars), who also directed the original Toy Story in 1995 and Toy Story 2 in 1999, and is expected to bring back Woody, Buzz, Mr. Potatohead, and the whole gang of animated toys that set the bar for the new genre of feature-length computer-animated films. Lasseter will also produce the project and lend a hand in writing the script with co-writers Rashida Jones, Will McCormack, and Andrew Stanton. The cast has yet to be officially released but I would imagine Tom Hanks and Tim Allen will reprise the roles of Woody and Buzz Lightyear. We’ll keep an ear out for more information.